Spring-hinge



(ModeL) G. M. LANE.

SPRING HINGE.

No. 298,480. Patented May 13, 1884.

Z FIG 2.

FIG

vv IITNESSES.

INVENTOR. W w n knuckle, A.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrca.

GEORGE M. LANE, OF ASBURY PARK, NEWV JERSEY.

SPRING- HINGE.

SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,480, dated May 13, 1884.

Application filed January 12, 1884.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE M. LANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asbury Park, in the county of Monmouth and State of.

New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Hinges; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in spring-hinges; andit consistsin the novel con: struction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front View of my hinge. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the pintle and spring. Fig. 3 is a detail of the ratchetring. Fig. 4 is a detail of the spring-cap. Fig. 5 is a detail of the pawl-plate; Fig. 6, a detail View of the upper knuckle inserted; Fig. 7, a detail view of the middle knuckle; Fig. 8, a detail view of the lower knuckle, all of which will be described.

I have shown my invention as applied to a surface-hinge. It will be understood, however, that it may be made a mortise or doubleacting hinge without any departure from the principles of my invention.

The plate A is provided with the middle This knuckle is provided in its upper end with two broad shallow slots, A arranged. diametrically opposite each other, as most clearly shown in Fig. 7. A narrow slot, A, is formed downward from the center of each slot A", for the purpose presently described.

The plate B is provided with the upper and lower knuckles, O D. The knuckle (l is provided in its lower side with slots 0, arranged diametrically opposite each other. The outer end of these slots is of a width equal that of the slots A and its sides are beveled inward toward the base, as shown. The lower knuckle, D, has its lower end closed, and is provided in its upper end with slots D, from the lower end of which I form laterally a 'wing, D".

(Model) These wings are extended in the same circumferential direction from both the slots.

The ratchet-ring E is formed with the central opening, E, and has notches E on its periphery. These notches are beveled on one side and straight on the other. A cross-bar, F, extends across the opening E. I prefer to use this cross-bar in order to better support the end of the spring, as presently described; but good results will be had if, instead thereof, short radial projections F are formed on the inner walls of the opening E, as shown in the lower view in Fig. 3.

The pawl-plate G is made of a size to fit in the knuckle D, and is formed with a central pintle-opening, G. Pawls H are secured or formed 011 the periphery of this plate and eX- tend upward therefrom. These pawls are movable vertically in the slots D, and are provided on one side,near their lower ends, with lateral projections H, arranged to turn into the wings D and hold the pawl-plate down against the tension of spring I when so desired. This spring I is placed in the knuckle D, and bears against the base thereof and the under side of pawl-plate G, holding the same normally up in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The spring-cap J is formed with a central pintle-opening, J, and is made of an external diameter fitted to the internal diameter of knuckle A. It is placed in the upper end of this knuckle, and is provided with radial lugs K,fitted to the slots A therein. On the upper side of the spring-cap I form sliding surfaces K,which extend radially over and above the lugs K. These surfaces K are made of a size to fit the slots 0 of knuckle O, and are beveled on their opposite ends correspondingly to the bevel of the walls of said slot 0. A slot, K", is formed in the lower end of the spring-cap and through one side of one of the lugs K, asmost clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The pintle L has its lower end slotted or bifurcated, forming legs L, and is provided at its upper end withan opening, L to receive a pin whereby the pintle may be rotated. Where desired, the pintle maybe formed with an angular head to receive awrench. The ten- ICO In putting my hinge together, the spring I is placed in knuckle D, the pawl plate is pressed down in said knuckle against the pawlspring, so as to bring its portions H opposite wings D of the slots D. The plate G is then turned and extensions H catch in slots D ,and

the pawls are held from any upward movement. The upper ends of the pawls are now approximately flush with the upper end of the lower knuckle. The tension-spring is placed in the knuckle A, and the ratchet-ring and-springcap placed against respectively its lower and upper ends. The lower end of the spring bears against and in line with cross-bar F of the ratchet-ring, and its upper end, M is extended through slots K and out through A as clearly shown. The ratchet-ring is now pressed firmly against the lower side of the knuckle A, and the spring-cap is forced down at its upper end until the surfaces K rest within slots A These parts are then slipped between the knuckles G D, and the pintle is inserted from above through knuckle C and spring M, and its legs L pass down on opposite sides of the end M of spring M and the cross-bar of the pawl-plate. The pawl-plate is now released and its spring forces it into engagement with the ratchets of ring E. By turning the pintle the hinge-spring may be wound to any suitable desired tension. As it is thus wound the ratchet-plate is also turned, and is held at any desired point by the pawl, as will be read ily understood. In Fig. l the hinge is represented as closed, To open same the longitudinal force of the hinge-spring holdingcap J in slot 0 must be overcome. By this means the door is held closed against the wind,as will be understood. When the hinge is open, the longitudinal tension of the spring will again force the spring-cap lugs into the slots 0 and hold thedoor open.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

posed between the spring and the knuckle C,

and provided with sliding surfaces adapted to enter the slots 0 whenthe spring is at rest, whereby the longitudinal expansion of the spring is utilized at such times to hold the door against the force of the wind, substantially as set forth.

2. In a spring-hinge, the combination of the knuckle D, having slots D, the spring I, arranged in said knuckle, the plate G, placed on said spring and provided with pawls H, the ratchet-ring having a suitable cross-bar or transverse projections, and the hinge-spring and bifurcated pintle, all arranged and'operating substantially as set forth.

3. In a spring-hinge, the combination, with the knuckleA,having slots A A ,of the springcap J, having sliding surfaces K- and slot K and the hinge-spring and pintle, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. The combination of the knuckle D, provided with slots D, having lateral wings D, the pawl-spring, the pawl-plate provided with pawls having lateral extensions H, and the ratchet-ring. pintle, and hinge-spring,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. LANE.

\Vitncsses I D. W. SANBORN, WV. XV. LARRABEE. 

